Estrogen dominance means there is too much estrogen compared to progesterone in a person's body. This hormonal imbalance causes several symptoms in women, such as stress, insomnia, fertility issues, osteoporosis and hot flashes. Although women experience these symptoms more often, some of them can also appear in men or children. Most estrogen imbalance symptoms can be experienced naturally only by women.

One of the most common estrogen imbalance symptoms found in both sexes is stress. When there are excessive amounts of estrogen in the system, it causes a person to experience anxiety and insomnia. As a result, the adrenal glands suffer from fatigue and produce less progesterone. Over time, this leads to even more progesterone output and an increase in estrogen dominance. Stress causes worse estrogen imbalance symptoms, including a change in blood sugar levels.

An imbalance of estrogen is responsible for infertility issues in women. Having low levels of estrogen in the body can stop the ovulation process from happening. Estrogen acts as a stimulant for mucus found at the opening of the cervix, and the sperm cells cannot move toward their desired destination until estrogen changes the texture of the mucus. After the transformation occurs, the sperm can swim easily to the ovum. There must be an adequate amount of estrogen in the body to line the uterus wall, and without the lining, it will not be possible to implant a fertilized egg.

Ad

Low estrogen levels in the human body increase the risk for developing osteoporosis. Estrogen is necessary to maintain the bone density found in women. After menopause ends, the estrogen levels continue to decline, and the loss of bone density quickens. Women can lose more than 25 percent of bone density during the first five to 10 years after menopause. Those who have both of their ovaries surgically removed can also experience these estrogen imbalance symptoms.

Hot flashes are experienced by the majority of women, usually right before menopause begins. The hypothalamus is responsible for controlling the body's temperature. When decreased levels of estrogen occur in the body, it causes the hypothalamus to overheat. This leads the brain to control the heat levels by sending out the necessary signals at a quicker rate. The rapid heartbeats allow the blood vessels in the body to circulate until sweat is produced to cool the heat.

Discuss this Article

I think I have an estrogen imbalance due to stress. I have chronic anxiety and was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I need to have my hormonal levels checked right away.

stoneMasonPost 2

@donasmrs-- Do you also have fatigue and low libido?

Sometimes I wonder how many of these symptoms are from estrogen imbalance and how many are a result of other symptoms. For example, I think my fatigue and low libido are due to sleep disturbances, which in turn is due to night sweats.

I wake up many times during the night due to hot flashes and night sweats. I literally have to change into new pairs of nighties. Once I wake up, it takes me a while to fall asleep, but I wake up again sweating a few hours later. The lack of sleep is really taking a toll and I think my fatigue, low libido and irritability are actually resulting from this. Of course the underlying cause of everything is estrogen imbalance.

donasmrsPost 1

Hot flashes are not the only effects of estrogen imbalance due to menopause. In addition to hot flashes, I also have headaches, trouble sleeping, vaginal dryness and hair loss. My doctor has put me on estrogen replacement therapy however and my symptoms appear to be reducing slowly. I just want to be back to my normal self again.

Post your comments

Please enter the code:

Login

Register

Make changes/additions/deletions to the article below, and one of our editors will publish your suggestions if warranted.

Optional: Explanation of your recommended changes

Thank You!

One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted.
Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive,
this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!